Fully Automatic Tattoo Image Processing And Retrieval

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method for automatically identifying tattoos in captured images. The method includes identifying a skin area within an image; and detecting a plurality of key points within the skin area, wherein the key points are discontinuous points. The method further includes extracting and storing location information and at least one feature for each key point, wherein the stored information describes a tattoo in the skin area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for automatically identifying tattoos in captured images, the method comprising:
 identifying a skin area within an image;   
       detecting a plurality of key points within the skin area, wherein the key points are discontinuous points; and
 extracting and storing location information and at least one feature for each key point, wherein the stored information describes a tattoo in the skin area. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the stored location and feature information for the tattoo with stored information for previously processed tattoos to identify an individual. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous points are at least one of: a bifurcation, an ending, a corner or a cross-point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin area is identified by locating a pixel in the image containing a skin tone and identifying adjacent pixels to the pixel containing a skin tone, wherein the skin area includes the pixel and the adjacent pixels. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feature is one of any combination of: color, texture, and orientation information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting and storing tattoo edge characteristics. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting and storing tattoo texture information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a picture of the skin area extracted from the image. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a post-processing step, wherein the post-processing step is at least one of: broken edge connecting or false edge removing. 
     
     
         10 . A system for automatically identifying tattoos in captured images, the system comprising:
 a processor comprising a skin identification module, a key point detection module and memory;   wherein the processor receives an image captured by an optical scanner;   wherein the skin identification module identifies a skin area within an image;   wherein the key point detection module detects a plurality of key points within the skin area, wherein the key points are discontinuous points; and   wherein the processor stores location information and at least one feature for each key point in memory, wherein the stored information describes a tattoo in the skin area.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor compares the stored location and feature information for the tattoo with stored information for previously processed tattoos to identify an individual. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the discontinuous points are at least one of: a bifurcation, an ending, a corner or a cross-point. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the skin area is identified by locating a pixel in the image containing a skin tone and identifying adjacent pixels containing a skin tone. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the feature is one of or any combination of: color, texture, and orientation information. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor detects and stores tattoo edge characteristics. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor detects and stores image texture information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor stores a picture of the skin area extracted from the image in memory. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor completes a post-processing step, wherein the post-processing step is at least one of: broken edge connecting or false edge removing.